"You ate way more than me, so why aren't you stuffed?"
On the small terrace outside the banquet hall, Yun Duo was sprawled out in a pure white wrought iron chair without any regard for her image, rubbing her stomach while staring at Li Bingchen with a 'resentful' expression and asking a question.
“Because I’m a boy, I eat more than you,” Li Bingchen replied casually to Yun Duo. Then, with a concerned look, he asked, “Are you really feeling unwell? Should I have someone bring you a box of digestive pills?”
Normally, Li Bingchen rarely gave orders to the palace servants, because their gazes made him very uncomfortable. Of course, this didn't mean that the servants wouldn't do whatever he specified. After all, Li Bingchen was still the fifth prince, and no matter what, he was still a minor master of the palace. The servants might ignore him, but they wouldn't go too far.
At least, they can still be persuaded to get a box of digestive pills.
So, seeing that Yunduo was feeling uncomfortable, Li Bingchen decided to have a servant bring over a box of digestive pills.
"No, maybe not..." Yun Duo said, a little embarrassed.
After all, even if she disliked learning 'etiquette,' she knew that overeating at such a banquet was embarrassing. She was already being mocked for being from the countryside, so even if she didn't care about the kids' comments... she still had some self-respect.
Seeing Yun Duo's embarrassment, Li Bingchen comforted her, "It's okay, I'll just say my stomach isn't feeling well. Anyway, I did eat more than you just now, so I should be the one who's full."
He then went and called for his servant.
"Y29, my stomach is a little upset. Could you go and get me a box of digestive pills?"
The servants in the palace were all numbered, though this wasn't always the case. In fact, after His Majesty the King inadvertently discovered that the palace servants were neglecting his son, although he didn't publicly punish them, he immediately instructed the palace steward to number all the servants and guards, and that everyone must wear a clearly marked work badge while working in the palace. If anyone was negligent in their duties (neglecting his son), they would be identified by their number and punished according to the relevant regulations.
In this way, although he did not openly protect Li Bingchen, the son he favored, in order to protect Li Bingchen, he still prevented Li Bingchen from being neglected by the servants in the palace to a certain extent.
As things have developed, it has become customary in the royal palace to address servants by their assigned numbers. Li Bingchen is no exception.
The servant, number Y29, responded respectfully but indifferently, then turned and left.
Back beside Yun Duo, Li Bingchen comforted her, saying, "Just bear with it for a bit. The servant will bring the digestive pills over soon. You'll feel better after taking them."
Yun Duo's attention wasn't on the digestive pills. She looked at Li Bingchen and asked, "Li Bingchen, what did you just call her? Why does her name sound a little strange?"
“Y29, huh?” Li Bingchen replied matter-of-factly, then smiled at Yun Duo and explained, “Oh, that’s not her name, that’s her number. Servants in the palace are all called by their numbers.”
"Doesn't she have a name?" Yun Duo asked, feigning curiosity.
Li Bingchen nodded and replied, "Of course there are, but in the palace, people generally don't call each other by name. It's been like this for two or three years now."
"Do you know what her name is?" Yun Duo asked Li Bingchen again.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
